u.s. & world

Thai soccer team: These are the players and coach rescued from the flooded cave

Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Photos from social media show the 13 members of a Thai youth soccer team, 12 players and one coach, all of whom have been trapped in a partially flooded cave in northern Thailand for weeks.
MAE SAI, Thailand -- ABC News has identified photos from social media showing the 12 members of a Thai youth soccer team and their coach who have been rescued from a partially flooded cave in northern Thailand after being trapped for weeks.

The photos show the team's coach, 25-year-old Eakkapon Chanwong, as well as players Mongkol Boonbiam, Songpong Jaiwong, Ponchai Kumluang, Pipat Pothi, Duangpetch Promthep, Adul Samon, Panumat Sangdee, Peerapat Sompiangjai, Prajak Sutham, Nuttawut Takamsong, Chanin Wiboonrungrueng and Eakkarat Wongsukchan.
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The boys and their coach became trapped on June 23 when they went exploring in the cave after a soccer game. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. The only way to reach them was by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air.

Rescuer working near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018.AP
Two ambulances are seen leaving the cave in northern Thailand hours after operations began to rescue trapped youth soccer players.AP
This undated photo released via the Thai NavySEAL Facebook Page on Sunday, July 8, 2018, says "€œWe,€™ Thai and international teams join forces to bring the young Wild Boars home."AP
Rescuers arrive near the cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018.AP
Australian Federal Police and Defense Force personnel arrive near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23,.AP
Thai police stand guard near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand.AP
Thai policemen stand guard near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province.AP
Rescuer walk out from cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018.AP
Australian Federal Police and Defense Force personnel arrive near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province.AP
Family members pray near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Saturday, July 7, 2018.AP
Thai rescue teams use a water pumping system at the entrance to a flooded cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing.AP
Thai rescue teams walk inside cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.AP
Family members pray in front of a Buddhist statue near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province.AP
Thai rescue teams arrange a water pumping system at the entrance to a flooded cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing in northern Thailand.AP
Family members pray in front giant Buddhist statue near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in northern Thailand Saturday, July 7, 2018.AP
Thai rescue teams walk inside cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.AP
Thai soldiers line up to the cave area as they continue the search for a young soccer team and their coach believed to be missing in a large cave, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.AP
International rescuers team prepare to walk in a cave where a young soccer team and their coach are believed to be missing, Thursday, July 5, 2018.AP
Thai rescues team walk inside cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand, Monday, July 2, 2018.AP
Thai rescues team walk inside cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand, Monday, July 2, 2018.AP
International rescuers team prepare walk in of a cave where a young soccer team and their coach are believed to be missing, Thursday, July 5, 2018.AP
Thai rescues team walk inside cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand, Monday, July 2, 2018.AP
A U.S. military rescue team is briefed by the Thai Navy SEALs at the staging area outside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand .AP
Members of the emergency rescue team talk in the staging area as they continue the search for a young soccer team and their coach believed to be missing in a large cave.AP
In this handout photo released by the Thai Navy, Thai rescue teams walk inside the cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing in northern Thailand.AP


Before rescue operations began on Sunday, Thai officials repeatedly said that a quick underwater evacuation of the boys, aged 11-16, and their coach was needed because of the possibility that access to the cave could soon close again due to flooding from seasonal monsoon rains.

"The plan that I've held on to from the beginning is that we have to bring the kids out and the determining factor of this plan is to have as little water as possible," Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said, adding that floodwaters have been drained as much as possible.



On Tuesday rescue operations concluded after the last of the boys and the coach were extracted from the cave and transported to the hospital.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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